Bottom-pour teeming vessel with sliding gate and pouring tube



,March 17, 1970 J. T. SHAPLAND 3,501,068

BOTTOM-POUR TEEMING VESSEL WITH SLIDING GATE AND POURING TUBE Filed May 21, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 awe/won JAMES r. .SHAPL AND March 17, 1970 J. T. SHAPLAND 3,501,068

BOTTOM-POUR TEEMING VESSEL WITH SLIDING GATE AND POURING TUBE Filed May 21, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent 3,501,068 BOTTOM-POUR TEEMIN G VESSEL WITH SLIDING GATE AND POURING TUBE James T. Shapland, Wilkenstownship, Allegheny County,

Pa., assignor to United States Steel Corporation, a

corporation of Delaware Filed May 21, 1968, Ser. No. 730,870 Int. Cl. B67d 3/00 US. Cl. 222-512 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A bottom-pour teeming vessel for pouring molten metal into a mold is provided with a sliding gate or valve controlling the flow of metal and a nozzle extension tube depending below the gate. A nozzle plate is secured to the vessel bottom and the sliding gate is urged thereagainst by spring cushions mounted on spaced rails one on each side of the vessel nozzle, and secured to the vessel bottom. The cushions also mount an extension-tube holder below the gate and the upper end of the tube is secured thereon by a split clamping collar. The gate is thus free to slide between the nozzle plate and the upper end of the tube.

This invention relates to a bottom-pour teeming vessel for casting molten metal, i.e., a ladle, tundish or the like and, in particular, to a teeming vessel having a sliding gate or valve for controlling flow through a nozzle, and an extension tube depending therebelow.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In casting molten metal it is desirable to provide a bottom-pour vessel with an extension tube depending therefrom toward or into the mold therebelow. One example is shown in Seidel Patent No. 1,923,119. This practice is particularly desirable in continuous casting. An alternative to the conventional ladle stopper, viz, the sliding gate or valve shown in my Patent No. 3,352,465, however, does not permit an extension tube to be secured directly to the vessel bottom. It is accordingly the object of my invention to provide a teeming vessel having a sliding gate with a means for mounting a depending nozzle-extension tube.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In a preferred embodiment of my invention, I attach a nozzle plate having a port therein to the vessel bottom so that the port registers with the vessel nozzle. I also attach to the vessel bottom a pair of spaced parallel rails, one on each side of the nozzle plate. The rails have spring cushions mounting ways on which a sliding gate or valve moves. An extension tube holder is also supported on the spring cushions and a tube depending from the holder is secured thereto by a split clamping collar. Thus the sliding gate is free for movement between the nozzle plate and the upper end of the tube.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGURE 1 is a section through a portion of the bottom of a teeming vessel having the invention incorporated therein, taken at right angles to the path of movement of the sliding gate, with parts in elevation;

FIGURE 2 is a section taken along the plane of line II-II of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 3 is a partial bottom plan view showing the extension tube and the split clamping collar which secures it to the tube holder.

3,501,068 Patented Mar. 17, 1970 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now in detail to the drawings, a teeming vessel 10 has an outlet nozzle 11 in the bottom thereof. A rectangular metal-framed refractory plate or slab 12 having a central hole in registry with the nozzle is confined in a rectangle of bars 12a and secured to the vessel bottom by means to be described shortly. A rectangular flowcontrol panel or gate valve 13, also metal-framed refractory, is mounted by said means, for sliding movement across plate 12. The valve 13 is one of two types, i.e., that is shown in the drawings with a central hole, or a solid blank which cuts off flow through the hole in plate 12. Valves 13 are pushed successively into position beneath plate 12 by a cylinder and piston (not shown) mounted on the vessel bottom.

Spaced parallel rails 15 are secured to the vessel bottom by bolts 16 extending through flanges on the rails and through bars 12a. Spring cushions 17 are secured to the inner faces of the rails in spaced relation therealong. Each cushion comprises a cartridge 18 having a plug 19 slidably received in its open upper end, and an adjusting screw 20 threaded into its closed lower end which is drilled and tapped to receive it. A coil spring 17 is compressed between a thimble 21 resting on screw 20 and plug 19 which is anchored to the thimble by a central screw 22.

The plugs 19 of the several cartridges together support and continuously exert an upward pressure on an extension-tube holder 23 which is a rectangular frame including shoulders 23:: and a depending flange 23b. As shown in FIGURE 1 shoulders 23a rest on cushions 17, specifically on plugs 19. A refractory extension tube 24 having ears 240: at its upper end is supported in the flange 23b of holder 23 by a split clamping collar 25, the segments of which are secured to the flange by screws 26. The remaining space within shoulders 23a and flange 23b is filled with a plastic refractory mix 27 which sets and in which is embedded a central refractory block having a port therethrough.

Guide bars 29 extending along shoulders 23a and secured thereto by screws 30 confine movement of valve 13 to a straight path. Movement of tube holder 23 with valve 13 is prevented by stops 31 extending inwardly from rails 15.

Manifolds 32 extending along the outer faces of rails 15 communicate with the interior of cartridges 18 by passages 33. Cooling air may thus be supplied to springs 17' and is exhausted through passages 34.

It will be evident from the foregoing that my invention provides a sliding gate for a teeming vessel with an extension pouring tube which remains fixed in position though the gate is free to move and is firmly pressed against the vessel bottom (plate 12) at all times to prevent leakage.

Although I have disclosed herein the preferted embodiment of my invention, I intend to cover as well any change or modification therein which may be made with out departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination with a sliding gate valve and an extension tube depending therebelow for attachment to the bottom of a teeming vessel having an outlet nozzle in its bottom, comprising spaced parallel rails secured to said bottom, one on each side of said nozzle, spring cushions spaced along the adjacent faces of said rails, a relatively fixed extension-tube support including spaced and shoulders resting on the cushions of said rails, respec- 3 4 lely, and a flange depending between said shoulders, va- References Cited fractory extension tube having spaced ears bearing on UNITED STATES PATENTS id flange, a clamping ring embracing said tube, means curing said ring to said flange, a refractory slab se- ,2 lred to the vessel bottom, having a port therein alined 5 2789730 4/1957 e I 2 lth said nozzle and a refractory panel slidable between lese u er f id shoulders and said slab. SAMUEL F. COLEMAN, Primary Examiner 2. The combination as defined in claim 1, charactered by a coolant manifold extending along each rail and LANE Assistant Exammer tssages from each manifold communicating with the 10 U.S. C1.X.R.

ring cushions on one of said rails. 22256l, 567

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,501,068 March 17, 1970 James T. Shapland It is certified that error appears in the above identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby c'orrected as shovm below:

Column 1, line 31, "a" should read its Column 2, line 13, cancel "is"; line 59,"'preferted" should read preferred line 71, cancel "and".

Signed and sealed this 15th day of December 1970.

(SEAL) Attest:

WILLIAM E. SCHUYLER, JR.

Commissioner of Patents Edward M. Fletcher, Ir.

Attesting Officer 

